So, we have these two little yorkies. I should say ONE little yorkie; as the other one is quite giant for this breed of small dogs. Molly (the tiny one) and Maxine (the giant) are usually good dogs. As far as bringing ANIMALS into your home and expecting them to act like anything other than ANIMALS!
Unless you ask our neighbors. Yes, on Easter Sunday (while my family was gathered for dinner) one of our neighbors thought it the best time possible to share this little fact with me.
Now, please keep in mind we live in a neighborhood. Their house is seriously 1oft from ours. We have nice wooded backyards, but the side yards and front yards are pretty darn close. It’s inevitable that the dogs from the neighborhood are going to cross these invisible property lines. I can hardly remember where the line is, how in the world is a dog going to?!!!
Well, this particular neighbor was less than happy that our monstrously huge dog had been using his yard as a shortcut to get back home. I believe his exact words were. “could you please keep your dog out of our yard.” Of course, I smiled and apologized, only to be met with a pretty dirty look, no smile, and a very (hmm, how should I put this) loud and direct, “SERIOUSLY!!! KEEP YOUR DOG OUT OF MY YARD!”
Well, aren’t we overflowing with the joy of His resurrection…
In my best sarcasm, and quietest loud voice (you know the voice reserved for your kids when you are really, REALLY angry), I replied, “I certainly will, and I am sure you are aware that YOUR dog was on OUR deck just yesterday!” I then slammed the door as he walked away. It was by far the finest moment in my let-the-love-of-Jesus-pour-out-of-you life.
Now, I know Maxine should not be in his yard. It is my responsibility to keep her in the confines of our yard and keep her from taking her ginormous body through the streets of Hathaway Lakes. I usually do, I promise! But, you know things happen. There are screaming children, fights to break up, or a gaping wound that needs tending. I get distracted once in awhile. And (gasp), she leaves the yard! For the love of all that is holy, how is this a big deal?!
Maxine, who as I mentioned is large by Yorkie standards, is still less than 12in tall and weighs about 10lbs. If she was using his yard as a port-a-potty, and I am 100% sure she is not; she is quite particular about where she puts her precious poo, and it’s most definitely not his yard, unless he somehow owns the very unlucky birch tree about 2ft from my flower bed. Anyway, if she was her poo is about the size of breakfast sausage link (great word pic, right), so again what’s the big deal! His dog, on the other hand, is very nice black lab (which, in case you didn’t know, is about 50x the size of a yorkie).
Oh, I should probably let you all know how I know how sweet their dog is…you see, it has been frequenting our back yard since they moved in. As a matter of fact, it comes up on our deck at least once a month. I have also had the great pleasure of cleaning up the slightly larger mess a Lab leaves when it smells the scent of another dog.
You, see this particular Lab doesn’t pay attention to property lines either.
So, here I am feeling like Maxine and I are being treated very unjustly.
But, that’s not the point.
I mean our dog walks through their yard…
Actually, the point is this kind of thing is supposed to bring out the best in me. This kind of thing is supposed to give me the opportunity to share the love of Christ with my clearly very frustrated neighbor. This kind of thing is supposed to help me display my ability to “turn the other cheek.” Instead, my husband looked at me and said “Isn’t this supposed to bring out Christ in us?” My response was “well…that’s not what happened in me!!!”
And we laughed. And we sighed. And we thought we really need to do better next time.
Funny thing is, I just put this sign in front of our door. You know, as a reminder for us to do these things, every time we walk through the door out into the world! It’s in front of the very door I slammed in my neighbors face…
I am thinking I am going to have to choose happy this week because of the hidden (and obvious) opportunities I have share the love of Jesus. I may not get it right every time, but at least it allows a little self reflection. I am sure I’ll get another chance …hopefully, it’s with the neighbor. Fingers crossed that it’s not about the dogs!
Consider the Birds... 